Itanagar, May 10: The VKV Parents Coordination Committee of Arunachal Pradesh held a meeting with office bearers of the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya Arunachal Pradesh Trust (VKVAPT) and members of the VKV Alumni Association to discuss growing concerns among parents over the recent fee hike in VKVs across the state.
The meeting was attended by VKV Parents Coordination Committee representative Dikchung Regia Dukam and other executive members, while the VKVAPT side was represented by Secretary and Trustee Sujata Nayak, Joint Secretary Rupesh Mathur, Dr Minggam Pertin, and VKV Alumni Association Chairman Gyamde Gumja Tamin, among others.
During the discussion, the parents’ committee strongly placed three key demands before the authorities — rationalization and reduction of the present fee structure, uniformity in fee structures across all VKVs in Arunachal Pradesh, and clarification regarding the sudden and steep hike in fees instead of gradual revisions over the years.
The committee highlighted the financial hardships faced by many families, especially those with multiple children studying in VKVs. It urged the authorities to adopt a more transparent, practical, and parent-friendly approach while revising school fees.
Responding to the concerns, VKVAPT officials stated that the institutions have been facing financial constraints for several years. They informed that although annual budget proposals are regularly submitted to the State Government, the grants-in-aid provided to the schools have remained stagnant despite the expansion of VKVs across various districts.
The authorities further explained that increased financial support from the Govt would help the schools meet rising expenditures, including teachers’ salaries, annual increments, and implementation of salary structures in line with the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by the institutions, the parents committee maintained that the steep fee hike has placed an immense burden on parents and guardians. The committee appealed for immediate reconsideration and rationalization of the fee structure in the larger interest of students and families.
After consultations with all stakeholders, the committee observed that the fee hike appears to be largely driven by the need to sustain quality education amid inadequate financial support to individual VKV schools. It therefore stressed that meaningful intervention from the Government of Arunachal Pradesh is essential for a balanced and sustainable resolution of the issue.
The parents also appealed to the State Govt to take necessary steps at the earliest to safeguard both the quality of education and the interests of students and parents.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with participants expressing hope that enhancement and timely allocation of adequate grants-in-aid by the State Govt could substantially reduce the financial burden on parents.
The committee also acknowledged the installment-based payment system recently introduced by the VKV Trust as a temporary relief measure, though many parents continue to face difficulties in managing the increased fees.